Northwoodsmom - they had snow the other day but it looks like it will be warming up a bit when we are there. Definitely nothing like our weather in SoCal lol!
We ended up celebrating a lot earlier than usual with our out of state children coming before Christmas and so close to one of the kids' birthdays that it was rather off for them as well as for me, as I usually focus on their birthday first. My sailor vet and sailor gal spent their Christmas at the hospital with Baby P. and my other out-of-state kids had already headed home. We had a quiet day with only a couple of our children, wet weather but no snow, and sunshine!
All in all, we still had some family fun, watched movies, played games, and went to look at Christmas lights.
My sailor was not able to come home for Christmas, but we had a nice long phone conversation. We hadn't talked in a while, so it was really nice to chat. My older kiddo and their wife were here for Christmas morning, which was simple and delightful.
My son called thru fb messenger at 2am for about 30mins, wifi cooperates with us this time. Glad I was still awake, cleaning up as my friends spent NYE at my house. Last time he called was a couple of days before thanksgiving during a port visit. Yep his first deployment since graduated NPTU in Aug 2022. I am getting sporadic text though at least weekly.
Hang in there Pizanche, not sure where your son is and what boat/ship he is on but if the wifi is good he can message or email you
So happy for you and your sailors family. Baby P is already home.
B’s - enjoy Baby Oliver and safe travels
Northwoodsmom - seen your pic, glad your son was home, mine his 2nd Christmas missing home
Pizanche & Gigi - Thinking of both of you. Thank you for sharing as well! Even though my son is no longer in the Navy, I still follow his ship. They have been out on deployment for a long while now. I am glad to know of others who have sailors out on deployment, as it helps me think about each one of them a lot more personally. My thoughts and prayers for both of you.
Hello everyone 💙I haven't been on here much because of life events that have been a distraction. My Sailor has started Nuke school. I'm really struggling with the silence from him though. I'm reading this is normal? It's difficult for me to understand Navy life and what their daily lives entail, things their told, etc. My Sailor doesn't say much about it for me to understand, but maybe they can't? I'm guessing. I'm not sure. Is it because their schedules are so demanding and they don't have the time or their focused on their responsibilities, etc.? Just trying to understand something I'm not familiar with. I don't ask a lot when i send texts or when i have talked to him, i just try to be the positive in his life i always have been. We have always been close. Anyone that can help me understand I would appreciate it💙⚓️
The silence is totally normal. Our sailor started in late Nov. So far he is explained to me that it's very rigorous a lot of study hours and not a lot of sleep. For example, he goes to school from 7:00 to 4:00, runs back to the barracks to use the restroom and grab a dinner, then heads to study hall where he is at till about 10:00 p.m. and then back to the barracks to shower and go to bed. They are required to do at least 15 hours a week in my son's a school but he's been doing more like 23 to 28 hours per week so you can imagine how exhausted they are and probably not in the mood to talk. Also keep in mind they cannot take their phones anywhere near the school or study hall so their fun time is extremely limited. Then the weekends come and they just want to probably shut off their brains. Mine has been bowling a lot with friends on the weekend and sends me little updates here and there but I try not to bug him because I know he has a lot on his plate right now. It will get easier as time goes on but I think they're new and trying to figure it all out.
NucMomTami - thank you so much for this information. This is helpful!! It's hard to understand something when you're not familiar with it. Sounds so rigorous and exhausting. Prayers and positive thoughts for our Sailors🙏💙⚓️
Q's Momma - thank you!! It's been a tough adjustment. I'm trying to find that spot and wanting to do the right thing, but I'm not always sure what that is. I appreciate the insight so much!
I always think about the letter we received after they got there that talked about how they are purposely going to stress omthe Sailors out to the point of extreme because their job when they get on a ship or sub will be very stressful and rigorous and they will need to learn how to handle this in all situations. I am just giving him his space and allowing him to begin the process of growing up and being on his own and trusting in the Naval process of making a great nuclear engineer sailor out of our son.
Good Evening everyone!! Thank you ladies for sharing with each other. I apologize that I am just not posting a lot on here. My son was an ETN2 by the time he left the Navy this summer. In many ways, I struggle being able to relate to everyone that does not hear from their sailor while at GC, as my son actually started calling his siblings more and stayed connected with us. We were his lifeline. But in Prototype he had a chief ask him what he did to decompress or handle difficult situations. When he told the chief that he called home, the reply was, "Well, what about when you are out to sea, and you can't call home." - I don't know if that is part of what your sailors are being told, or not, but it could explain some silence. And the BC mantra of "No News is Good News" still applies. It even applies once they are out of the Navy!!
I am glad NucMomTami shared a little bit of a timeline. - I just bumped my discussion - Nuke A school daily schedule back into the discussion queue above, but you should be able to click on the blue hyperlink and go straight to it. This was written over 6 years ago now, so some things may have changed. But my son helped me write this information, so be sure to read through the comments as I added to the discussion as he progressed. It explains a lot of the time schedule, terminology, and such.
I was a stay-at-home mom during his time at GC, so I knew when I could "catch" him back in his BEQ, or he often would call me after a test, because he knew that even with the hour time difference, I could generally answer the phone and talk. Saturday morning was his down time, and he would Skype with his younger brother, while doing his laundry and playing some video games. Some things they played together. Because he was under 21 and they were expected to "tell" on anyone that was not abiding by the rules, my son pretty much stuck to himself during A school. He did not have a car, but he rode his bike and would help friends with their runs for PT. The ETNs at that time had PT 2x week, plus the 5K run that they did once a week. I don't know how things have changed since COVID, he was out on the ship by then.
On Sundays my son usually slept in a little, and he never went to church, although a few of them tried to start a Bible Study and during Prototype one of the assistant chaplains was bringing in pizza at lunch and they were having a short Bible study/ devotional time then. Generally, after lunch, on Sundays, my son was at the Rickover building, studying until about 10 pm or so. Occasionally, I would receive a "good-night" text from him. They are told to be sure to keep Momma informed, because they don't want Momma's calling NNPTC to find out about their sailors, but it is still up to the sailor to do so.
Some moms have told me that their sailors have told them it is just too hard emotionally at times for them to call home. It makes them homesick.
Hello, Friends! I've been a bit MIA lately; my son got to come home for "Christmas" (although he was not here Christmas Day, but we were grateful to have him). It was a whirlwind, and I wish I had paid attention to the amazing moms here who said to buy refundable tickets. He was told when his Christmas leave would be, and then it changed 3 times in 6 weeks. The end result is we lost the $ for a one-way ticket, and we got a credit for another one-way ticket, and we ended up driving 28 hours in two days to get him and bring him home! (But he was able to fly back so that was a blessing.)
For the moms whose Sailors are in the pipeline, my heart goes out to you (and I teared up as I read your posts). It is an intense time, and the silence is difficult. For us, we had it a bit easier because we are only 4 hours from Charleston, so we were able to visit often. Now, we are more than 11 hours away from our son and this new normal is challenging. (But I am grateful that he's not at sea yet, and is not stationed halfway around the world.)
In case you don't hear it from your friends, YOU are amazing moms. Military families carry a load that most don't understand, but I know your Sailors appreciate your support (even if they forget to say it!) :-)
B'sNukeMom - Thank you for sharing. I had a news feed pop up this morning with this information, but it was hoping to find a better news source than the one that I had found.
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
So my son just went on a ski trip with MWR last weekend. It was good for his moral. He said only 5 from the Navy went the rest of the bus was filled with AF.
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
quadmommy - the finish line is near! Is your son MM, EM or ET? There are a few other nuke groups on here but not a specific prototype group. And the other groups aren't really active. I'm sure the FB group is way more active....but we do have some current and old-timers here that stick around lol!
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
My sailor was an ETN2 and finished his enlistment last summer. He is getting ready to start his college, as well as being a stay-at-home dad with his new baby girl, while his wife continues her Navy enlistment. They met on the ship he was serving on.
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Northwoodsmom - they had snow the other day but it looks like it will be warming up a bit when we are there. Definitely nothing like our weather in SoCal lol!
Dec 21, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Dec 22, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Dec 25, 2023
Chipmunk
Merry Belated Christmas everyone!!
We ended up celebrating a lot earlier than usual with our out of state children coming before Christmas and so close to one of the kids' birthdays that it was rather off for them as well as for me, as I usually focus on their birthday first. My sailor vet and sailor gal spent their Christmas at the hospital with Baby P. and my other out-of-state kids had already headed home. We had a quiet day with only a couple of our children, wet weather but no snow, and sunshine!
All in all, we still had some family fun, watched movies, played games, and went to look at Christmas lights.
Dec 26, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Dec 26, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Chipmunk, I'm so sorry that Baby P wasn't able to come home for Christmas. Hopefully she will be home soon!
Dec 26, 2023
PacNWmom
My sailor was not able to come home for Christmas, but we had a nice long phone conversation. We hadn't talked in a while, so it was really nice to chat. My older kiddo and their wife were here for Christmas morning, which was simple and delightful.
N4M hugs to all!
Dec 26, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Dec 27, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
PacNWmom - amazing how good a phone call can you make you feel ;-D
Dec 27, 2023
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
I'm so excited - heading to Michigan tomorrow!
Dec 28, 2023
joe-mom
PacNWmom - So glad you got your phone call!
B'sNukeMom - Enjoy your family time in MI. Safe travels!
Dec 28, 2023
Chipmunk
PacNWmom - I am sorry that you were not able to see your son, but I am glad you had a phone call!!
B'sNukeMom - Wishing your family lots of happy memories, and safe travels. Be sure to get a generation picture!!
Dec 28, 2023
Chipmunk
Jan 2, 2024
Chipmunk
Our family is also rejoicing that Baby Precious is now home with her family and they are all adjusting to baby life outside of the hospital.
Jan 2, 2024
Pizanche
Happy New Years!! My son is now deployed. It’ll be a long time before I hear from him. Praying for all the sailors out on and under the water.
Jan 2, 2024
joe-mom
Pizanche - That silence is so hard, but we are all grateful to your sailor. Praying for you both.
Jan 2, 2024
Gigi
Happy New Year everyone <3
My son called thru fb messenger at 2am for about 30mins, wifi cooperates with us this time. Glad I was still awake, cleaning up as my friends spent NYE at my house. Last time he called was a couple of days before thanksgiving during a port visit. Yep his first deployment since graduated NPTU in Aug 2022. I am getting sporadic text though at least weekly.
Hang in there Pizanche, not sure where your son is and what boat/ship he is on but if the wifi is good he can message or email you
So happy for you and your sailors family. Baby P is already home.
B’s - enjoy Baby Oliver and safe travels
Northwoodsmom - seen your pic, glad your son was home, mine his 2nd Christmas missing home
Jan 2, 2024
Pizanche
Thank you! 🙏
Jan 2, 2024
Chipmunk
Pizanche & Gigi - Thinking of both of you. Thank you for sharing as well! Even though my son is no longer in the Navy, I still follow his ship. They have been out on deployment for a long while now. I am glad to know of others who have sailors out on deployment, as it helps me think about each one of them a lot more personally. My thoughts and prayers for both of you.
Jan 3, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Jan 9, 2024
G'sNavyMom
Hello everyone 💙I haven't been on here much because of life events that have been a distraction. My Sailor has started Nuke school. I'm really struggling with the silence from him though. I'm reading this is normal? It's difficult for me to understand Navy life and what their daily lives entail, things their told, etc. My Sailor doesn't say much about it for me to understand, but maybe they can't? I'm guessing. I'm not sure. Is it because their schedules are so demanding and they don't have the time or their focused on their responsibilities, etc.? Just trying to understand something I'm not familiar with. I don't ask a lot when i send texts or when i have talked to him, i just try to be the positive in his life i always have been. We have always been close. Anyone that can help me understand I would appreciate it💙⚓️
Jan 10, 2024
NucMomTami
Jan 10, 2024
G'sNavyMom
NucMomTami - thank you so much for this information. This is helpful!! It's hard to understand something when you're not familiar with it. Sounds so rigorous and exhausting. Prayers and positive thoughts for our Sailors🙏💙⚓️
Jan 10, 2024
G'sNavyMom
Q's Momma - thank you!! It's been a tough adjustment. I'm trying to find that spot and wanting to do the right thing, but I'm not always sure what that is. I appreciate the insight so much!
Jan 10, 2024
NucMomTami
Jan 10, 2024
Chipmunk
Good Evening everyone!! Thank you ladies for sharing with each other. I apologize that I am just not posting a lot on here. My son was an ETN2 by the time he left the Navy this summer. In many ways, I struggle being able to relate to everyone that does not hear from their sailor while at GC, as my son actually started calling his siblings more and stayed connected with us. We were his lifeline. But in Prototype he had a chief ask him what he did to decompress or handle difficult situations. When he told the chief that he called home, the reply was, "Well, what about when you are out to sea, and you can't call home." - I don't know if that is part of what your sailors are being told, or not, but it could explain some silence. And the BC mantra of "No News is Good News" still applies. It even applies once they are out of the Navy!!
I am glad NucMomTami shared a little bit of a timeline. - I just bumped my discussion - Nuke A school daily schedule back into the discussion queue above, but you should be able to click on the blue hyperlink and go straight to it. This was written over 6 years ago now, so some things may have changed. But my son helped me write this information, so be sure to read through the comments as I added to the discussion as he progressed. It explains a lot of the time schedule, terminology, and such.
I was a stay-at-home mom during his time at GC, so I knew when I could "catch" him back in his BEQ, or he often would call me after a test, because he knew that even with the hour time difference, I could generally answer the phone and talk. Saturday morning was his down time, and he would Skype with his younger brother, while doing his laundry and playing some video games. Some things they played together. Because he was under 21 and they were expected to "tell" on anyone that was not abiding by the rules, my son pretty much stuck to himself during A school. He did not have a car, but he rode his bike and would help friends with their runs for PT. The ETNs at that time had PT 2x week, plus the 5K run that they did once a week. I don't know how things have changed since COVID, he was out on the ship by then.
On Sundays my son usually slept in a little, and he never went to church, although a few of them tried to start a Bible Study and during Prototype one of the assistant chaplains was bringing in pizza at lunch and they were having a short Bible study/ devotional time then. Generally, after lunch, on Sundays, my son was at the Rickover building, studying until about 10 pm or so. Occasionally, I would receive a "good-night" text from him. They are told to be sure to keep Momma informed, because they don't want Momma's calling NNPTC to find out about their sailors, but it is still up to the sailor to do so.
Some moms have told me that their sailors have told them it is just too hard emotionally at times for them to call home. It makes them homesick.
Jan 10, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Jan 11, 2024
Lisa
Just sent a text to my son, figured he would be reading it tonight since it was after 7am. Got a simple response but made my momma heart warm.
Jan 11, 2024
joe-mom
That's awesome, Lisa. Stay warm!
Jan 11, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Makes for a good day Lisa!
Jan 11, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Jan 12, 2024
MomofJoseph
Hello, Friends! I've been a bit MIA lately; my son got to come home for "Christmas" (although he was not here Christmas Day, but we were grateful to have him). It was a whirlwind, and I wish I had paid attention to the amazing moms here who said to buy refundable tickets. He was told when his Christmas leave would be, and then it changed 3 times in 6 weeks. The end result is we lost the $ for a one-way ticket, and we got a credit for another one-way ticket, and we ended up driving 28 hours in two days to get him and bring him home! (But he was able to fly back so that was a blessing.)
For the moms whose Sailors are in the pipeline, my heart goes out to you (and I teared up as I read your posts). It is an intense time, and the silence is difficult. For us, we had it a bit easier because we are only 4 hours from Charleston, so we were able to visit often. Now, we are more than 11 hours away from our son and this new normal is challenging. (But I am grateful that he's not at sea yet, and is not stationed halfway around the world.)
In case you don't hear it from your friends, YOU are amazing moms. Military families carry a load that most don't understand, but I know your Sailors appreciate your support (even if they forget to say it!) :-)
Jan 13, 2024
Chipmunk
MomofJoseph - I am glad that your son was able to come have some family time with you. I am sorry to hear about the flight changes!!
Jan 16, 2024
Chipmunk
Lisa, Sometimes I only got a "Goodnight!!" But we know they are okay.
Jan 16, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Good Morning! The USS Gerald R. Ford returns home today from it's first ever deployment! Over 8 long months.
Jan 17, 2024
Chipmunk
Welcome Home to all of our sailors!!!
Jan 17, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Jan 23, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Absolutely heartbreaking news about the 2 Navy Seals lost at sea. They paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Fair Winds and Following Seas...
Navy Seals identified
Jan 23, 2024
Chipmunk
B'sNukeMom - Thank you for sharing. I had a news feed pop up this morning with this information, but it was hoping to find a better news source than the one that I had found.
Our deepest condolences to these families!
Jan 23, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Welcome to our newest member AxolotlMom!
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Jan 23, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Jan 26, 2024
Lisa
So my son just went on a ski trip with MWR last weekend. It was good for his moral. He said only 5 from the Navy went the rest of the bus was filled with AF.
Jan 26, 2024
Chipmunk
Lisa, I think my son went on one MWR trip when he was at GC. It was just a day outing as I recall. I am glad he had an opportunity to go!
Jan 26, 2024
Chipmunk
AxolotlMom - We are glad to have you here on the Nuke Mom page as well.
Jan 26, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Welcome to our newest member ~ quadmommy!
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Jan 26, 2024
quadmommy
Thanks for the hello. My son is in the Nuke Pipeline and is in Prototype now. Just didn't see a group for that. I am active on the Nuke group FB
Jan 26, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
quadmommy - the finish line is near! Is your son MM, EM or ET? There are a few other nuke groups on here but not a specific prototype group. And the other groups aren't really active. I'm sure the FB group is way more active....but we do have some current and old-timers here that stick around lol!
Jan 26, 2024
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Welcome to our newest member ~ snickers0628!
Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page. Lots of good info there. Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all". And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule". And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Jan 26, 2024
Chipmunk
quadmommy & snickers0628 - Welcome Aboard!!
My sailor was an ETN2 and finished his enlistment last summer. He is getting ready to start his college, as well as being a stay-at-home dad with his new baby girl, while his wife continues her Navy enlistment. They met on the ship he was serving on.
Jan 28, 2024
Chipmunk
Q's Momma - All the best to your son as he finishes strong!! I did not realize he was that close to being done with the Pipeline.
Jan 28, 2024